Sports Groove

The organisation's Ordinary Congress was held during the Asian Weightlifting Championships in Gandhinagar, chaired by President Mohammed Yousef Al Mana and Secretary General Mohammed Al Harbi, with VP and IWF leader Mohammed Jalood also attending. One of the key items on the Asian Weightlifting Federation's agenda in India was the adoption of the new Constitution, as the previous one expired in 2024. The proposed draft constitution included several controversial articles, such as the removal of age limits for the president, general secretary and executive board members, and provisions for financial transparency and compliance with International Weightlifting Federation laws. Some members suggested postponing the adoption of the Constitution and first seeking the IWF's approval of the proposed amendments. According to the AWF's report, the proposed amendments were first discussed at an Executive Board meeting earlier that day. However, the constitution was no...

By Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye in Asaba        Team Enugu secured three silver medals in male weightlifting at the 9th National Youth Games, ongoing in the Sun City, Asaba, Delta. Chiemelie Aguji, was the talent behind this feat securing second spot in snatch, clean and jack. In a related development, Team Enugu' Temple Okwudili, was just too hot to handle for Emmanuel Joseph of Nasarawa State, in taekwondo at the sportsfeast. Team Nasarawa's Emmanuel Joseph's Taekwondo -45kg Kyorugi campaign came to an end after Temple Okwudili came from behind to knock him out 8-9.  Godwin who started the fight on a high note at the Stephen Keshi Stadium having the height advantage, failed to use his edge to his advantage. Emmanuel Joseph, in an interview with newsmen, stated that his height turned into a big disadvantage for him, restricting from throwing, head-spinning kicks. "My Enugu counterpart was shorter than me, and landing a head kick was not ea...

   The National Sports Commission (NSC) has praised the Nigeria Weightlifting Federation and Team Nigeria athletes for their sterling performances at the 30th Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships in Ahmedabad, India, where they have secured an impressive medal haul and further enhanced the country’s reputation on the global stage. As of penultimate day of the Championship, Nigerian weightlifters amassed four gold, two silver, and two bronze medals. Speaking on the achievement, Chairman of the NSC, Mallam Shehu Dikko noted that “to win medals, especially gold medals at this level takes a lot of preparation, sacrifice, and determination. Our athletes have shown the world that Nigeria remains a force to be reckoned with in weightlifting. Their success is a victory for our country, for every young aspiring athlete, and for the development of Nigerian sports as a whole.” Significantly, all athletes who clinched gold medals have now automatically qualified for the 20...

By Mishael Emmanuel with additional reports by Pius Ayinor  Nigeria’s remarkable outing at the 2025 Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships in Ahmedabad, India, hit new heights as Islamiyat Yusuf, Sarah Matthew and Adedapo Adeleke Opadeji combined to deliver three glittering gold medals and a bronze, firmly placing Team Nigeria in the global spotlight. Islamiyat produced a flawless display in the women’s 69kg division. Her snatch (105kg) and clean & jerk (131kg) were executed with precision and authority, giving her a commanding total of 236kg to clinch the gold medal in style. In the fiercely contested 77kg class, Sarah Matthew demonstrated her growing reputation with a technically superb performance. She powered her way to two gold medals for Nigeria — triumphing in both the junior and senior categories. Her lifts of 108kg in the snatch and 128kg in the clean & jerk gave her a combined total of 236kg. The men’s 79kg category also produced a podium finish for ...

By Mishael Emmanuel with additional reports by Olusola Adebayo   Nigeria’s performance at the 2025 Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships in Ahmedabad, India is most enviably as the nation continues it's impressive medal haul with Islamiyat Adebukola Yusuf claiming gold and Adedapo Adeleke settling for bronze in their respective categories. Adebukola dominated the women’s 69kg event, lifting a combined total of 236kg (105kg snatch + 131kg clean and jerk) to secure Nigeria’s second gold medal of the competition and consequently booked her place in the 2026 Commonwealth Weightlifting Event. New Zealand’s Olivia Selemaia followed with 223kg (100kg + 123kg) to take silver. In the men’s 79kg category, Adeleke battled hard but had to settle for bronze after registering 306kg (141kg + 165kg). India’s Ajaya Babu Valluri thrilled the home crowd with a gold-winning performance of 335kg (152kg + 183kg), edging past Malaysia’s Muhammad Erry, who lifted 333kg (150kg + 183kg) for s...

By Mishael Emmanuel with additional reports by Olusola Adebayo Nigeria’s impressive outing at the 2025 Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships in Ahmedabad, India, continued on Wednesday as Joseph Edidiong Umoafia and Ruth Imoleavo Ayodele delivered podium finishes to extend the country’s medal count. African Games champion Joseph Edidiong Umoafia clinched silver in the men’s 71kg division, lifting a combined total of 316kg (146kg snatch + 170kg clean and jerk). He narrowly missed out on gold by just one kilogram to India’s Ajith Narayana, who finished with 317kg to secure the title and book qualification for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Nauru’s Ezekiel Moses took bronze with 290kg (135kg + 155kg). In the women’s 63kg category, Ruth Imoleavo Ayodele claimed bronze with a total of 212kg (95kg + 117kg). The event was won by Canada’s Olympic champion Maude Charron, who lifted 230kg to secure gold, while India’s Nirupama Devi earned silver with 217kg. The medals for...

...This the beginning, Team Nigeria to mine more medals - Mallam Shehu Dikko  By Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye              The Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Mallam Shehu Dikko, showered praises on African Games gold medalist, Didih Onome Omolola for securing Nigeria's first gold medal at the ongoing Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships in Ahmedabad, India. Didih Onome Omolola mined the gold medal in the women's 53kg. Mallam Shehu Dikko was excited by the by Onome's golden lift, adding that this is a sign of many more medals to come for Team Nigeria at the championship. The NSC chairman expressed strong conviction in Team Nigeria's ability to excel in India, stating that they are the champions of weightlifting in Africa both by title and performance. "Weightlifting has always been our sport of comparative advantage and we are expecting a harvest of gold medals beginning with Onome. We have been ke...

   The National Sports Commission has applauded Didih Onome Omolola for winning gold in the women 53kg at the ongoing Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships in Ahmedabad, India today. This is coming after Ruth Nyong Asuquo won silver in the 48kg junior women category on Monday.  An elated NSC Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko believes that with Onome's golden lift, the floodgate of medals for Team Nigeria has been opened. "This championship will serve as qualifiers for the Commonwealth Games next year meaning that it’s imperative to excel so as to earn the right to participate at the Games next year. It’s for this reason we ensured there is dedicated budget line in the Appropriation Act to support this process which was gratuitously approved by Mr. President . This has guaranteed some level of stability for the qualifiers and preparations for these major events like the Olympics and Commonwealth Games well ahead of time, so there is no excuse this time.  "...